It is sad that one has to avoid certain situations because it could be a trap. There seems to be another “new” trick that threats are perpetrating now that includes elderly ladies. It seems that the threats threaten the elderly lady into being a part of their scheme, at least I hope that is the case because it would be seriously warped if the elderly person was a willing participant.

What happens is a vehicle with the elderly person inside either pulls up or is parked in a location and the elderly person asks young women for help. When the young lady comes to the vehicle to see what she can do to help and at that point in time the young lady gets assaulted by the threat(s). Then the young lady gets sexually assaulted/abused.

Whether this is a story traveling around or actually happening, the sad thing is threats are becoming more brazen and I believe that there are many reasons why. I believe that one of the reasons is because the “petty” criminals don’t spend any time in jail. Why? Because of over crowding. Since some criminals feel that being a criminal is a career, they know the system and how to get around it.

How sad is it that criminals get “3 hots and a cot”, which means they get 3 meals (hots) and a bed (cot), and we have many military members that are on food stamps. The military members risk their lives to serve their Country and the criminals prey on those that try to earn an honest living. What politician is trying put a stop to this? No one.

Threats are getting younger and younger and care less and less about the people that they hurt. This is why awareness must be increased on everyone’s behalf. Be cautious everywhere you go and do not let your guard down. Once you think nothing could happen to you, that would be the time something terrible is going to happen.

If you feel strange about someone that just entered the same location you are at or you feel uneasy about a group of individuals that are acting suspiciously, then a quick exit out of that location would be the safest decision. Some start to scream “racial profiling” only because they want an excuse to point the finger at someone else or refuse to admit what it truly is. It does not matter what color the threat is, if there is a group of individuals acting unruly or suspiciously it would be warranted to be suspicious.

Being aware does not mean paranoid, being aware means to be proactive about your own safety and take the necessary steps needed to ensure a safe and happy life. This entails knowing your home, knowing what you would/should do in the event someone breaks into your home, knowing what to do when you enter your vehicle, what you should do if you are being followed and what you could/should/would do in threatening situations.

There are many “instructors” out there that promote their courses and some of them are actually good at what they do while others are trying to take your money and relying on your ignorance on the subject to get away with it. By ignorance, I do not mean that you lack education or common sense, just that you may not know too much about the subject of adequate firearms training.

With that, please think about something before committing to a dedicated course: if is broadcasts online, ask yourself “what if I have a question?”. Currently (and for the foreseeable future) the NRA does not have any online courses. With that, any NRA instructor that says it is an NRA course and they happen to put it online (for firearm courses that is) for you to register, pay for and “attend” (which usually means you watch a video or PowerPoint presentation) then expect your money to be wasted because the courthouse is probably going to kick it back. This means you will not get your money back AND you wasted your time AND you learned nothing about firearm safety.

When it comes to defensive information, such as conceal carry information, it is important to get out of the class what you need to and what your “need” would be is: what are the conceal carry laws? Where can I legally carry? How can I transport my firearm? What do I do/say if I get pulled over? What if I need to fly and want to carry/bring my firearm? What are the rules of the local area? What signs do I need to be aware of (to prohibit carrying)?

You cannot plead ignorance if you actually have a license to carry concealed. That license states that you attended some sort of firearms safety course and that you are aware that you need to stay “up” on the local/state laws in your specific area. By saying “I was not told that”, “I did not know that” or “how was I supposed to know that” you are already wrong. It is your responsibility to gain that knowledge.

How much money do you have and do you enjoy throwing it away? I ask this because if you attend an online course for your conceal carry permit and the state does not accept it, or you attend that course, the state does accept it but the NRA finds out that the instructor did it online and revokes their credentials, then you are liable now and you learned little about the “can and cannots”. The money? Well, now you have to attend another course, sit in the classroom and hope that THIS class is actually going to teach you something. Fingers crossed!

Point being, if you attend an online course (which most universities are now promoting big time) you may not understand certain information. This is not even speaking about the conceal part of the course, this is just speaking about the firearm safety part. So, if you do not understand a part of the safety when dealing with the firearm and you end up firing that firearm anywhere, you are now liable for where that bullet goes. You are guilty and negligent. So if that bullet were to strike someone, you are guilty. How would you feel if it struck a child?
The phrase (which unfortunately is used a lot) “I didn’t know it was loaded” will not hold water in court on any level. You are responsible for the condition of that firearm, all firearms in your possession, at all times and guess what? If your firearm gets stolen and you do not report it, then you are still liable for everything that occurs with that firearm. Hmmmm think maybe you should research qualified and competent instructors now? I would hope so.

Many people are trying to capitalize on the latest fad/phase and that is that most everyone wants to gain their conceal carry license. That means that there are people out there that will devise ways to convince the public that they have the course that they need. They may advertise it as a defensive course that satisfies the state’s requirements for their conceal carry license. They will devise these courses preying on the ignorance of society to make as much money as possible while trying to “skirt” the laws of morality and ethics. I take my responsibilities more seriously than that.

My main concern is that there are plenty of firearm owners that are out there that believe they are “safe” and that they already “know all that they need to know about firearms” and this worries me for everyone’s safety. Their ignorance of reality places everyone around them at risk, especially if something bad happens. There are many that “talk” a big game and when they are called up “to the majors” they fail miserably. I don’t want to be the end result of their failure (being shot because they thought that they were good to go/the hero/bulletproof/etc.).

It is important to research anyone that is teaching you a skill. Not only research them but ask around to see if anyone else has gone to their class to see how it was (was it informative, instructors available after the class for questions, information easy to follow and understand, etc.). There is nothing wrong with calling the instructors/business and ask them questions about their instructors, if they are legitimate then they would have no issues letting a client/customer know who is teaching, how long they have been teaching, their credentials, etc. If you are made to feel guilty for asking such questions then that should SCREAM at you that you have asked / looked towards the wrong business. In that case you should RUN, RUN AWAY from that business as fast as you can.

A business is out to make money, some people go into business because they love what they do, others just want to make money. The bottom line is a business must make money if it intends on doing more business and intends to stay in business. With that, a business can still make money while providing adequate information at an affordable price. That price should be competitive for the area. Want to find out? Call around and ask each location their cost for their class (NRA firearms class/Conceal carry class/defensive fire class, etc.). Compare the costs with each of them, compare their credentials and what others are saying about them and get your answer that way.

Let me give you another example: When a question is asked to the average person in this area on what they would do if someone were to break into their home and their common answer would be “I would shoot them dead”. My answer to them at that point is “You will then be arrested and thrown in jail, probably sued by the threat/threats parents or spouse and your firearm will be confiscated”. They usually, at that point, look at me and say “I don’t care, I did not invite them, they were there to do me harm”. I tell them that in VA there is no “make my day law” or “Castle doctrine” so there are rules and regulations.

Just by that example, people go on the defensive and say crazy things like “I will shoot them and drag them into the house” (what they don’t know is that they will still go to jail), “if they come into my yard I will shoot them” (jail time), “I will put a knife in their hand and say they tried to kill me” (jail once the police investigate and realize that your fingerprints are on the knife and the knife matches the same ones in your knife drawer…two rooms and one floor over). Yet, people will still give a disgusted look and think that they have rights or that they will be “in the right” because someone attempted to break into their home.

Bottom line: you MUST know the do’s and don’ts when it comes to your rights, the laws and proper training involved with carrying for defensive reasons (and concealed carry is for defensive reasons). It does take more than going to the range once and shooting at a paper target. Ask yourself this: when was the last time a paper target attacked you? Just saying. There are techniques that can be used to increase speed and accuracy and prepare someone for quick/defensive firing if the need came up. Remember, if you get into a situation where you have to shoot to defend yourself, you still OWN every one of those bullets, regardless the situation, you are responsible for every bullet that you fire and you will be tried for any innocent struck by your bullet (that also means property as well).

Research for your rights, for your sanity, for your protection and the protection of your friends and family. Ignorance of the laws and regulations in your area (or other areas) is not a viable defense. If you enjoy your freedom, I would suggest you research your instructors, your future firearms safety classes and the things that will ultimately keep you safe in a dangerous/deadly situation.

Please feel free to forward this, email this, copy and paste it, share on social media, etc. I only attempt to ensure everyone knows what would be needed for their safety and the safety of their loved ones, especially today. Please be safe and DEFINTELY attend a safety course.

Mark LeClair
Smart Tactics
April 2013
THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
It is a sad time indeed, for the United States: bills being voted on that go against our constitutional rights, people deliberately breaking the laws and cover-ups occurring (blatantly at that), media cannot be trusted due to their bias influence, public figures stating you “can’t” do one thing and get busted actually doing what they are trying to ban, a medical system that is failing miserably, lemmings that demand that someone be blamed for everything bad that is occurring instead of those that are truly guilty being brought up on charges and terrorists attacking one of the greatest cities of all times. Truly a sad time indeed.
One cannot look at someone that seems to be acting suspiciously and accuse them of being a terrorist because they are too afraid to:
1)Hurt their feelings
2)Be wrong and take the chance of being sued for racial profiling
3)Be called out for being a racist
It is not racist to look at someone that is making the hair on your neck go up and get suspicious. Usually, if you get a bad feeling about something or someone, there is usually a good reason for it. Would you rather take the chance of being wrong and ensure everyone around you is safe or sit back, do nothing and then become news at 5pm while they scrape parts of you off of the wall 30 feet from where you were standing? This country is slipping further and further into the abyss.
CROWDS
Especially in a crowded situation where there are many people closer together for whatever reason, more so than normal, it is important to be watchful, aware of your surroundings and the actions of those in your area. If there are many people around you that means it will be harder to get away from that area if something were to go wrong. Once something goes wrong, it becomes mass hysteria and mayhem and some people will get trampled on because others had no regard for others because they want to escape the area by any means necessary.
That’s right, some of the same people that like to post on social media sites that they would do “such and such” to the bad people, or they would “hunt down” the bad people and so forth, are the same ones that are grabbing the old ladies in front of them and throwing them into a wall just to be further away from the bad area or situation. Not all, but there are some and you can expect that sort of reaction from most people (running when bad things are happening-fight or flight usually turns into flight for most).
When in a crowd situation, such as on a train, on a bus, on the subway, at a concert, at a sports venue or large gathering such as the Boston Marathon, it is important to look at those around you. By looking at the others around you, you would be able to see those that stay around you because of location. Then, if someone were to walk up into your area and they were not there previously, then you would notice that and be able to key into specifics:
-Hair color
-Height
-Weight
-Facial features
-Identifying marks, scars or tattoos
-Language/voice
-Clothing
-Accessories (backpack/buttpack/Unusual jacket on warm day, etc)
If someone were to carry a backpack and that backpack seems “out of place” or “excessively packed” then you may want to exit the area. If the person carrying it seems out of place or nervous or very anxious, that is another great reason to leave the area and tell someone. It is very wise not to just pick up your phone and shove it into the face of a stranger and take a picture, so that is not advised at all. On the other hand, if you were to point your phone towards them and they get really nervous and try to run away, that may be an indicator as well that they did not belong there. I would advise against it especially today because of the possible bad things that have been happening.
There are some telltale signs that someone should not be in a location, all you have to do is look for those signs:
Marathon:
People are cheering others at the finish line as they are crossing the line, in this location, everyone is seemingly going to be watching the runners as they are coming by. Everyone that is watching is waiting for their loved one, friend or family member to cross the line so their focus is on the finish line. Very difficult to try and stay focused on anything else. Then someone walks up with a large bag while wearing a big heavy jacket and beat up shoes (not running shoes). Their attention is away from the finish line and there is no excitement in their expressions nor are they cheering anyone.
Little warning signs. Be watchful of your area.
It is a huge tragedy that people were killed by these terrorists and I cannot say that I would have been any more watchful or observant than these people that were immediately affected by the explosion were and that is sad because I pride myself in trying to stay watchful and teach safety throughout my lessons (firearms, home protection, etc.).
Why would I have not been so watchful? Because I too would have been focused on the finish line and would have been cheering on the runners, despite not knowing anyone in the race, because that is what the residents of Boston do: they have immense hometown pride and love for events and others. These terrorists took advantage of that and people died and suffered because of that. Sad events indeed.

When you are stuck on a subway car or train, it would be difficult to get yourself to a safe area if the train is crowded. This is why you find a safe location, one that does not lock you into a corner with no escape. Find a location where you are close to an exit but with rear security: a location where you would not have to worry about someone sneaking up towards your back or blindspot.
I know that we as society, tend to get complacent with our security and awareness but when we do bad things happen and will continue to happen because bad people are taking advantage of the horrible situation the US is in and it seems that they are getting away with it. This is why each and every person must be accountable for their safety and not be too scared to find law enforcement and call in someone that is acting suspicious. It used to be called your right to do so and also your duty.
KNOW YOUR EXITS
When you go to a concert or location where there are many, many people, it is advised that you know where the exits are. Wherever you go, ask yourself one thing: If the lights go out, could I find my way out….with the hundreds of people trying to trample over me crying and screaming? Know where the closest exits are located, know possible hiding places such as bathrooms or utility closets, etc. By knowing where they are located, you could possible get to that location in a bad situation and actually survive it.
Bad people are everywhere and they will continue to figure out ways to destroy happy way of life, or ways to crush any sort of happiness that exists because of their beliefs or because they are absolutely off of their rocker. IT happens. If your State allows it, look into firearms training and conceal carry licenses. Some people prefer not to be armed and that is their right and I respect their rights. On the other hand, some people should not CARRY a gun nevermind hold one (or even draw one on a piece of paper for that matter). Each person is different and each person will have their own comfort level with a firearm.
Being armed does not mean you will be bullet proof. Being armed does not mean you will survive a threatening encounter. Being armed does not mean you are a vigilante. Being armed does not mean you are a badass. Being armed does not mean you are the best shooter in the world. Being armed does not mean you know everything about guns. Being armed DOES mean you should have pursued as much information as humanly possible regarding safety, safe gun handling, fundamentals of marksmanship, storage and cleaning of firearms before carrying that firearm.
Many people believe that they already know about firearms because they grew up around them. I grew up watching medical documentaries but I cannot perform brain surgery. Some people believe that because they have watched a bunch of videos on the internet, that they have enough knowledge to survive a dangerous encounter. These people are the ones that end up shooting themselves with their own gun or end up hurting someone else because of mishandling of said firearm.
Bottom line: be responsible for your safety and be watchful. Even though you are on vacation and in a location where there is happiness and excitement around you, there may be evil people that want to destroy others because that is their “mission” or “purpose in life”. Whatever the reason, my only hope is that these idiots end up calling their own devices with their cell phone and explode inside their vehicle, away from innocent people, instead of hurting innocent people around them. Evil will always exist but if you are more proactive about your situation, watchful and aware of your surroundings, safety conscious everywhere you are/go, then you will be ahead of most and hopefully more apt to spot something “out of place”.
As always, be safe, be aware and get trained. Being trained is better than being stuck in a location, frozen, because you cannot think of what to do. Shoot straight!

Due to recent events, there are those that are screaming for more gun control and stricter background checks and so forth. I am amazed at how they think. Truly. I cannot understand how someone could believe that stricter background checks can possibly stop evil? DO they really think that criminals get their firearms legally? Seriously?

Lets look at Chicago: 2012 Chicago had over 500 gun related murders/deaths. Chicago (not to turn it political but that was Obama’s area when he was a senator) has some of the strictest gun laws around (aside from NY and DC). So, if you take the firearms out of the hands from those that are responsible and can legally carry, you end up with criminals that have the firearms and an empty-handed public that could never have a chance against an armed intruder or car-jacking, etc.

Solution: Taking away a persons 2nd Amendment rights is not the answer. Responsibility and honorable people in the political arena may be the answer. Honestly. I bet you can count on two hands the amount of congressmen and women that are honorable, honest and are actually trying to do good for and by others.

Making magazines (yes they are called magazines, not clips-clips go in a females hair) lower capacity would not stop someone from reloading. The media, in all of its glory, likes to throw the “information” out there to gain more ratings. It is apparent that all of the media is influenced from one side or the other. Where is the truth? The average person will watch the news or read it on the internet and take that as the only truth. What is not understood is that each media outlet puts their spin on the truth to try and influence the reader. Check it out, do the research and you will see this to be true.

I am pro-gun absolutely, in the right hands that is. I do not believe that everyone should own or carry firearms. I believe that everyone (to include law enforcement) should have the appropriate training for their environment or where/why they are carrying. Practicing on a range at a paper target once a week will not prepare someone to rapidly defend themselves against a gunman that enters their home and starts shooting-FACT. Caveat to that is: in an indoor range, on a paper target, with the correct instruction (and knowledgeable instructor) the shooter can increase their accuracy, speed and abilities to defend themselves in a rapid, self defense environment. Key words: Knowledgeable instructor, proper instruction).

Helpful (maybe some may think common sense) ideas:
If there is someone in the home that has a history of mental illness or possible mental problems: either don’t have any firearms present and get that person proper medical attention or have a lock-box or vault that no one but the firearm owner can access (key hidden, vault properly bolted to a stud in the wall, etc.).

Kids are curious and always will try to impress “the cool kids”. By that I mean, if you have kids in the home, ensure they are properly educated in trust and responsibility. Trust goes a long way and no parent wants to believe that they cannot trust their children but fact remains that even the most trusted child will eventually try to impress their friends. They will try to show off, steal, break into a safe/vault to show off the firearms, etc. Plan accordingly.

In a society that has removed the firearms from the people, criminals can thrive because they know that they will be the only ones that have bullet capabilities. It should be obvious but one would think that with the economy tanking and nothing of substance being accomplished in the first four years of obama’s presidency along with him accumulating more national debt of any other president, that the people would try and elect someone that can pull the US back up and level us off. How did that turn out? Well, we have obama for another 4 years. What is his platform? Take guns away (as he promised a foreign dignitary). Where is the sense? Fast and the furious: how many people have to die? who was held accountable? Who signed the line overall to make it a GO? Well, we will never know now because Eric Holder (who we know was involved) received an executive pardon by obama for his papers to stay buried and not investigated. Instant guilt being shown and no one takes it for action? WOW

So it is okay to put our sailors and soldiers into harms way for these people to stay in office and make 6 figures while our military makes less than adequate amounts to try and raise their families. IS that fair? My story is known but for those that don’t: 16 years naval special warfare, 2-parachuting accidents and medically discharged with nothing. I was given a severance amount that I have to pay back to the VA for disability. So what did I get for doing a job that most would not want to do? A broken body and constant fight with the VA. When trying to appeal to the Secretary of the Navy for medical retirement, what was his response? Same as politician that does not do the research: I back our Dr’s and the decision stays as is. This is despite the fact that the Air Force re-evaluated my case and recommended to the Secretary of the Navy that I was to be instantly retired! This is my thanks for ensuring our citizens freedom. Great.

Overall, a background check will not show someone’s evil intentions. The people that know those that say things like “I am going to do this or that” or “If I had a gun I would….” should absolutely turn those people in because no one knows what the others are capable of. Start holding the adults and children accountable for what they say or write on social networking sites. Ensure firearms instruction is available and it is available regardless where you live, you just have to look for it and be responsible with your firearm. If everyone holds true to this, more people will remain safe. But alas, our government has their own agenda.

Some states dont allow teachers to be armed. So what are those states doing about safety and awareness classes? After the VA TECH Shootings I personally sent all colleges in VA an offer to provide safety courses and classes to their staff. The answer back from the colleges: “We are good, we have security” “we have our own police dept. We are good”. I recently sent all of the school districts in Hampton Roads VA an email offering a FREE safety seminar to their teachers. How many have I heard back from? NONE as of yet.

This is the world we live in and there are not enough out there that care enough about our society to provide adequate instruction but worse than that…..the average person does not think that they need instruction on pistols or personal safety because “no one is breaking into my home now” and “nothing bad ever happens here” and it is because of that, that these people will become the victim and once a victim, always the victim….always!

Be safe and pursue education. What can it hurt? What can it save you from? Weigh the odds and jump in!

Holiday Safety: To all, because of the holidays, awareness tends to diminish because of the focus being presents, shopping, screaming kids and insane traffic. Because of this, threats tend to increase their “business”. Threats know that if they can corner a mom and her children by a vehicle, that that mother will quickly give up her purse, money, gifts/items to keep the children safe. Threats will prey on this type quickly.

Because threats are looking for anyone that seems like an easy “mark” it is important to remain aware and take certain steps to ensure your safety (and the safety of your children):

Tips:
-Park under a light. Even if you are only “going to be a minute” or “will be out of the store before it gets dark” sometimes we lose track of time.
-Back into a parking spot: this will allow you to leave quickly if needed.
-Get RFID sleeves for your credit cards to ensure you do not get the information stolen by someone with a remote scanner (I just had mine stolen two weeks ago, thankfully the bank blocked a transaction in Florida).
-Be aware of the surrounding area of your vehicle when approaching.
*If there seems to be a shady character in the vehicle next to yours, walk past your vehicle and circle back to the store. Once in the store, ask security or the manager to escort you to the vehicle.
* Enter the vehicle from the passenger side
* Look for anyone hiding underneath vehicles next to yours. If you walk down the opposite side of the parking lane, you would be able to see underneath the vehicles on the side where you parked easier.
*Keep your car key in your “weak” hand to keep your strong hand open for protection, if needed
*Always check the backseat before entering the vehicle
*When entering the vehicle, get in, lock door, start car, place in gear and then worry about the seatbelts, cell phone, etc. If a threat were to try and attack, you would be able to escape quickly.
-If you feel you are being followed in a store:
*Verify your suspicion by walking to a section where that person probably would not go to (example: If you are a female and a male is following you and you notice this while in the shoe department, go to the women’s underwear section, then to make up aisle. The odds that that person is shopping for the exact same thing as you is slim to none).
*Walk towards an employee and inform them that you are being followed and that you need them to contact the manager and security and have them verify it on their video system.
*Keep from allowing yourself to wander into remote areas of the store while the manager/security are checking their footage
*Have the manager hold the “stalker” away from any of the windows while you and your children escape out of the store long enough to drive away without the threat seeing your license plate or make/model of your vehicle.
*If the threat were to get too close or you feel they are dangerous, point at them and start screaming. If it was coincidence that they were following you, they will probably leave quickly. If they are a threat, others will be able to see the threat as well which will give you more witnesses.

There are many evil people that exist and the last thing any of us need is to have our loved ones experience a traumatic experience during the holidays, especially one that will affect their life in such a way that will make them scared wherever they go for the rest of their lives.

By increasing your awareness and knowing that it is okay to point at someone that is approaching you in a menacing way and screaming as loud as you can to gain attention, you can more likely avoid a threat or threatening encounter.

If a threat is approaching you in a menacing way, keep your car key at the ready and get ready to strike soft tissue. Groin strikes are “exit makers” and if you do not have that distance, use your strong hand and squeeze the “coal couple” to make a pair of diamonds!

It does not matter how long you have been a shooter, or how long you have known about guns, practice is vital to enhance your abilities with your firearms. It is important to understand that practice does or can improve your fundamentals, speed and also accuracy. But how do you practice? What do you practice?

Most will go to an indoor range, hang a paper silhouette target, send it back a few feet and then proceed to shoot at the center of the target. Some “hot shots” will go for head shots, maybe to show off, maybe because they don’t quite understand that “IF” they happen to shoot down the target cable that allows each shooter to send their target back, they will then own that cable system and anything else that that range can charge you for. So…is it worth taking that chance?

I have seen some that go into the range, put their target onto the cable system and send the target all of the way to the back of the range. Some of these people were also attempting to teach their girlfriends how to shoot. How did it go? Poorly, every single time. Why?
-Not everyone should/could be an instructor
-Sending the target to the very back is not a realistic distance
-If you, yourself, do not know the fundamentals, how can you teach someone else?

Anyway, back to practice: what do you practice when you go to the range?
There are many courses of fire that can be used to increase speed and accuracy but practicing the fundamentals will also increase speed and accuracy. Accuracy above all else.

First recommendation:
-Use a small-caliber handgun
If you want to increase your skill, try using a .22 caliber pistol. The .22 is a great caliber because it has minimal recoil. If there is a deficiency with your grip, it will immediately show you on your target. Same thing goes with being steady, aim, control of the trigger/trigger pull, etc. Once you fine tune your skills with the .22 (which has very inexpensive ammunition) then move on to your firearm which you desire to better your skills. The .22 is a great warm up pistol.

It is wise to acknowledge that going to a range and shooting at a paper target at a set distance will not prepare you for an attack. There are many courses of fire that will, but many ranges limit the amount of movement that a shooter can accomplish while on their range (for liability reasons). It is important to have a desired end result before starting your shooting. Remember: a paper target will never shoot at you or attack.

Practice does mean more than once a year. Just because you have a good time and shoot well once does not mean you have finited your skill, hence the practice, practice, practice speech.

Remember also: there are good days on the range (everything goes smooth and you put the bullet exactly where you wanted to) and there are bad days (where everything goes somewhat wrong for you). Take each practice session as a new practice session and get what you can out of that session.

It seems that there is a lot of buzz about how the world as we know it will collapse soon and that everyone will be in a situation like in the movie “Mad Max”. I am not saying that the economy and leadership currently in power is not crushing the life out of us slowly, not at all but what I am saying is “avoid the chicken little syndrome” otherwise you will end up driving yourself nutso.

Prepping for disaster is a good thing. It will allow you to have clothing, food, water and other essentials if something were to occur but building a cement bunker that is radiation proof and having it underneath your home may be a bit expensive and excessive.

Do some research and find legitimate companies that offer emergency kits and supplies before pouring your money into the first person that convinces you that their “magic bag” will save your life!

Example: I have what I consider my “chosen 5”. These 4 other individuals that I trust wholeheartedly and are very experienced and like-minded as myself. We want to be prepared for emergencies but we are also former or current military. We have created certain items for emergency purposes for the average civilians:
*Grab-n-Go kit: A bag that is already set up for you to grab and quickly leave the home (because you dont have time to pack)
*3-Day bag: This bag is to sustain existence for 3 days
*5-Day bag: same as above

SO what separates us from the rest? We are not thinking about zombies or invasions. We are thinking that this works out well for hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes and if, by some wacky chance, civil unrest if it were to come down to that.

Our med kits alone include more items than that of the average kit and can be tailored to the client. We also have an advanced trauma kit for long term use. Our bags are for the average person that is trying to survive and/or protect their family so that they can survive as well.

For those on the law enforcement side of the house, or those that thinking that they would need to use their firearms or just survive in a strange location: we are offering up custom tactical gear rigs. Basic, intermediate and advanced vests. Each has its own gear associate with it and can also be customized to their needs.

We are not thinking that we are going to provide items to save the world but we are trying to educate people so they can save their time and well earned money making practical purchases instead of falling for the many scams that exist today. As always: be safe and shoot straight!